No sooner were you going through your teenager years, you are 18 years old, and you discover you have a stoma (called Sid). How did that initially impact your life at such a young age? 

The surgery had been spoken about multiple times when I’d had previous flare ups, but at the time I was SO against the idea as it petrified me. It was something I tried to put off for as long as I could but in the end no medication was working for me and it was sort of the only option left. I think at that point I’d been so poorly for so long I just wanted my colon gone so the pain and poorlyness would stop. It wasn’t easy to get my head around the fact I was going to have a stoma however once I started to feel better after the surgery I started to accept it. My stoma gave me my life back and has allowed me to do so many amazing things - so I’m forever grateful! I still have my ups and downs of course, but for the most part I love Sid the Stoma! 

It is fair to say, you had a tough start to life as a young teenager and young woman; looking back how do you think all this has shaped your personal and professional journeys to date?Has it given you more drive to do the things you love the most and conquer your passion and goals? 

It’s 100% given me more drive to get out there and do things! I spent so much of my teenage years not being able to do the things I wanted due to my ulcerative colitis that now I’m ready to make up for it! I think overall it’s made me stronger and more determined. I’m also super passionate at trying to change people's outlook on stomas, as I hate that I ever thought of it as such a negative thing for so long when in reality it gave me my life back. There is such a big taboo around bowels and stoma bags - I want to get rid of it! 

From the outside looking in, it appears that you have handled all the challenges that life has thrown at you so well. We are sure there has been times when it has not been like this, would you be able to discuss some of the challenges you have had to face with your stoma Sid, your visual disability, ulcerative colitis? 

Ulcerative colitis handed me lots of hard times and downs in my life. At my worst, I was going to the toilet a crazy amount of times a day and at points couldn’t even leave the house. I struggled massively with anxiety when it came to being close to the toilet and it was something that was constantly on my mind. At that point, I still found it hard to talk about what was happening to me as I was embarrassed my bowels didn’t work like everyone else’s. I’d tried so many treatments over the years that didn’t work, it was hard not to feel defeated at times. Sid the Stoma brought a different kind of challenge, as I feel it was more about body confidence. It took me a while to accept my new body and some days I still get my wobbles - like I’m sure we all do! However when I look at Sid now, I think about how healthy it’s made me and all the incredible things I've been able to do since my surgery.